Another busy signing day in the Peninsula District

Dave Johnson, djohnson@dailypress.com | 757-247-4649

Signing Day has become an annual event at Phoebus, where anything short of a state championship is considered an off year. The Phantoms fell short of that goal in November, but four players signed their letters-of-intent Wednesday morning.

Defensive end Mark Wilson (Cincinnati), running back Tony Pittman (Marshall) and linebackers Atavius Matthews and Richie Staton (both Old Dominion) signed their paperwork during a ceremony in the otherwise-quiet school library. Linebacker Drevon Badger signed an academic scholarship with Saint Augustine's University, where he will be a preferred walk-on.

"We feel like celebrities here with all the cameras and flashing lights," Matthews said. "The young guys being able to see this and it's good for them. A lot of them have great talent, like (freshmen) Robbie Robinson and Terrell Toliver. They can do big things."

All told, 12 Peninsula District players signed with Division I or II schools on Wednesday. Each had made his commitments known, some as early as last spring.

At Phoebus, principal William Beverley called the day "a culmination of all your efforts." Ann Stephens-Cherry of Hampton City Schools told the players to remember the day and build on it.

For Pittman, a talented back who was a recruiting question mark, it was a special day.

"I really didn't know for sure what was going to happen, whether I'd be going to a junior college or D-I or D-II," he said. "But I realized I had a chance. It's a blessing."

Staton and Matthews will continue their careers together at Old Dominion, which already has five former Phantoms on the roster.

"We're winners, being from Phoebus," Matthews said, "and that's the best place for us to win and play high level football and get a great education."

For a pair of high school seniors, that's an eternity. But Wednesday morning, it was finally official.

"To finish it off, it feels great," said Moore, who was recruited as a safety. "It felt like a relief to stop everything else and just sign it. And you know it's official. I feel like a Monarch."

Newsome, who was recruited as an athlete, envisioned himself signing with Virginia Tech all along. That's where his father, Myron, was a starting linebacker in the mid-1990s.

"I always thought about it," he said. "In my early years, I bled V-Tech."

The two signed Wednesday morning, but the school had a ceremony in the conference room at 3:30 p.m. Their parents and friends attended along with Crabbers coach Mike Smith.

On National Signing Day, football prospects are allowed to sign starting at 7 a.m. Heritage running back Khalid Abdullah wasted little time.

Abdullah, the PD's Offensive Player of the Year, made things official with James Madison at the school at 7:30 a.m. He was decked out in a jacket and a JMU-gold tie.

"It's been a really good day," Abdullah said. "I'm blessed to be in the position I'm in. Without my family and coaches, this wouldn't have happened."

Abdullah, who rushed for 1,611 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, was something of a late bloomer to college recruiters.

"I didn't think any of this was possible coming into my 11th-grade year," he said. "I never thought I'd be in the position I'm in now."

Also signing Wednesday were three players from Warwick: running back Cardon Johnson (James Madison), linebacker David Smith (Navy) and running back Grandison James (Saint Augustine's). Because of a scheduling conflict, the Raiders held their ceremony Tuesday, though the forms could not be sent to the schools until Wednesday morning.

Bethel's Nick Clark signed with Coastal Carolina at the school. He will be the third member of his family to play college football, following brothers Terry (Randolph-Macon) and Stephen (Delaware).

In signing with VMI, Menchville's Dillon Christopher became the second Peninsula District kicker in as many years to earn a scholarship with a Division I school. Phoebus' Eric Enderson signed last year with Delaware.

Also, the Monarchs' Joron Foster will be attending Christopher Newport and playing on the Captains' team.